WAIM #054 - Don Dixon - by Matty C

What Am I Making Podcast

WAIM #054 - Don Dixon

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WAIM #054 - Don Dixon

Producer extraordinaire, sublime sideman, and all around rad dude Don Dixon swings by the Sheddio to talk R.E.M., Guadalcanal Diary, Tommy Keene, The Smithereens, and spending a life in music.

Matty C

Feb 26, 2024

Transcript

No transcript...

I was nervous to interview Don Dixon. When I first booked the interview I was filled with excitement, but that soon turned to anxiety when I realized that I’d have to play it cool when talking with the man who produced the first two albums by R.E.M..

I’d gotten the hookup from my friend and podcast guest, Jon Carroll who tours with Dixon in Mary Chapin Carpenter’s live band. When I reached out to Dixon, his assessment of the situation was, “Any friend of Jon’s, is a friend of mine.”

When it came time for the interview, Don made me feel most at ease and within seconds it was like chatting with an old friend. Dixon is a tremendous storyteller, much like our mutual friend Jon Carroll, and has a lifetime of stories from the studio and stage that could easily have filled three hours without breaking a sweat.

Once we got rolling, we careened through Dixon’s musical youth, his early band, The Arrogands, along with learning the studio ropes and the record label game. Don shares his story of meeting a 15 year old Mitch Easter who was forming a new band called the dB’s with Chris Stamey and Peter Holsapple. Easter would eventually record the first R.E.M. EP, Chronic Town and worked with Dixon as co-producer on Murmur and Reckoning.

Eventually, I confessed my love of R.E.M. to Don and he was kind enough to nerd out with me on behind the scenes stories of making those two records. He also regaled me with tales of time in the studio with Guadalcanal Diary, The Smithereens, Tommy Keene, Marshall Crenshaw, and more.

There is a brief discussion of Sinatra, 12 inch records, and Don’s less than stellar view of vinyl as a sonic format. Dixon also shares his theory on the value and importance of having a great band playing behind a singer, and how songs alone don’t make for hit records. We also chat about how every new record now has to compete with all the greatness that has come before it.

This is a great chat with a terrific soul who has seen and done so much in the world of music. Enjoy this chat with me and the great Don Dixon.

Cheers,
Matty C

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What Am I Making Podcast

Hey there. I’m Matty C. For the formally inclined folks in the crowd, the official designation is Matt Carlson.

I am a 50 year old musician, songwriter, and graphic designer that's spent the Covid era pondering deep and meaningful questions about music, film, literature and art in the 21st century.

It seems as though we’re living in age where musicians have to give their music away, content is around every corner and we don’t seem to really value much of any of it the way we used to.

What is it really like to make a living pursuing a life in the arts these days? Why are we seeing a lower percentage of artists in the workforce than at anytime in 100 years?

Now, I’ve reached a point of massive change in my life and I am preparing to spend more of my time, and hopefully, generating a portion of my income from my creative endeavors. That’s a terrifying endeavor, but it’s also incredibly exciting.

I’ll be discussing these ideas and a whole lot more of my own curiosity and creative endeavors on this platform using the written word, videos, podcasts, music and probably some other assets I learn along the way. I’ll be seeking out smart, and fascinating creatives as they build their own lives while fighting an ever-growing series of new challenges and opportunities.

All of these journeys and detours are an effort to share my exploration of culture in the modern world, and to help shine a brighter light on the work I have been doing for years as a musician, designer and podcaster.

This discussion is at the very center of our civilization, what it means to be human andhow to find a meaningful way to connect through that shared humanity in the form of artistic expression. Art is at the core of the relationship. Let’s explore it with that context, and that incalculable value, in mind.

If you enjoy what you hear on the show, please subscribe to my Substack where I also I post this podcast as well as a variety of essays, video and recordings regularly in my search to find out what art really matters to people right here and right now, and they are willing to do to invest in our culture.

Thank you so much for being here. It’s wonderful to have your support.

https://whatamimaking.substack.com

Hey there. I’m Matty C. For the formally inclined folks in the crowd, the official designation is Matt Carlson. I am a 50 year old musician, songwriter, and graphic designer that's spent the Covid era pondering deep and meaningful questions about music, film, literature and art in the 21st century. It seems as though we’re living in age where musicians have to give their music away, content is around every corner and we don’t seem to really value much of any of it the way we used to. What is it really like to make a living pursuing a life in the arts these days? Why are we seeing a lower percentage of artists in the workforce than at anytime in 100 years? Now, I’ve reached a point of massive change in my life and I am preparing to spend more of my time, and hopefully, generating a portion of my income from my creative endeavors. That’s a terrifying endeavor, but it’s also incredibly exciting. I’ll be discussing these ideas and a whole lot more of my own curiosity and creative endeavors on this platform using the written word, videos, podcasts, music and probably some other assets I learn along the way. I’ll be seeking out smart, and fascinating creatives as they build their own lives while fighting an ever-growing series of new challenges and opportunities. All of these journeys and detours are an effort to share my exploration of culture in the modern world, and to help shine a brighter light on the work I have been doing for years as a musician, designer and podcaster. This discussion is at the very center of our civilization, what it means to be human andhow to find a meaningful way to connect through that shared humanity in the form of artistic expression. Art is at the core of the relationship. Let’s explore it with that context, and that incalculable value, in mind. If you enjoy what you hear on the show, please subscribe to my Substack where I also I post this podcast as well as a variety of essays, video and recordings regularly in my search to find out what art really matters to people right here and right now, and they are willing to do to invest in our culture. Thank you so much for being here. It’s wonderful to have your support. https://whatamimaking.substack.com

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